“Pay with PlugShare” Makes It Easier to Pay for Public EV Charging

PlugShare, the most widely used charger locator application in the United States, yesterday announced adding a payment solution that is charging-station neutral, allowing EV drivers to charge their vehicle at any network’s station. “We are trying to make it easier for first time drivers to use charging infrastructure,” Brian Kariger, CEO of Recargo Inc., told PluginCars.com. (Recargo owns PlugShare, as well as PluginCars.com.)

The payment solution, called Pay With PlugShare, solves the dilemma of proprietary payment systems, extra fees, and members-only charging by allowing payment through a smart phone via the PlugShare app. It’s similar to paying with a credit card at a parking meter. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are all accepted by Pay With PlugShare.

It works with any charging network, and no membership is required. Networks providing fee-based public charging can add Pay With PlugShare while maintaining direct control over their pricing and infrastructure. Pay With PlugShare can be linked to a network’s existing payment infrastructure or can use PlugShare’s ecommerce infrastructure.

Pay With PlugShare is currently available with iOS and will be available with Android later this year.

Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) support will be available before the end of 2013, so networks investing in OCPP can use that infrastructure.
SemaConnect is the first network to partner with PlugShare to introduce the new payment system.

“Pay with PlugShare makes it easier than ever to start, and pay for charging sessions,” Mark Pastrone, vice president of business development for SemaConnect told PluginCars.com.

SemaConnect of Bowie, Mary., is a leading provider of commercial charging solutions, including the hardware, network operations, and software. Its customers are commercial property developers including retail, multiple-family, hospitality, and medical properties. Pay With PlugShare will be available at more than half of the 600 SemaConnect Level 2 chargers nationwide.
Charging costs using Pay With PlugShare are up to the real estate developer, said Pastrone. “The cost averages $1.00 to $2.00 an hour,” he said.

Stay on the Cutting Edge of Green Car Technology!

PluginCars.com is a trusted and reliable source of information about next-generation automotive trends. If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe below: